By PAGE Editor

Online colleges are a fantastic resource for all those who want an alternative way to higher education. The traditional college experience isn't for everyone, especially mature students who aren't keen on the idea of campus life. Online courses offer the freedom to learn and develop skills remotely, while still providing the same quality education and qualifications. You can study in your spare time from home, work during hours that suit you, and take your time to get the skills you need to further your career.

The dilemma for mature students is where to enroll. With so many colleges providing some form of distance learning these days, the choices are often overwhelming. Here are some important points to remember when choosing the best online college.

5 Things To Look For When Choosing The Best Online College

1) The Courses On Offer

Let's start with the most important aspect of them all. The best way to start creating a shortlist of colleges to enroll with is to look at their specialties and courses on offer. Some colleges will have a broad range across different disciplines, while others may be more focused on science, technology, computing, humanities, or more vocational subjects. If you have a specific career goal in mind or want a qualification in something niche, these specialist colleges may be the way to go. If you're still browsing for ideas and unsure of your major, stick with the bigger colleges with the wealth of knowledge.

With that shortlist of places narrowed down, you can go deeper into the content of those courses. The college prospectuses should offer information on the different modules within each course and aim across each year. This will give you a better idea of whether the course touches on those specific areas of interest or goes in the wrong direction. You can also get a better idea of whether or not the course has any elements that take place at the campus or on location elsewhere. This could be a deal-breaker when choosing the best online course. If you chose distance learning because you have to work 100% from home, those monthly in-person classes and workshops might not be appropriate.

2) The Tutors Teaching The Courses

It should go without saying that every tutor working on these online courses should be fully qualified. This doesn't just mean they have some basic experience in the field and decided to teach a class. There are plenty of websites like that with short courses for building new skills. These have their benefits for learning things specific to your trade, but it's not going to give you a recognized diploma in the end. These tutors should be trained teachers and professors who offer the same course material to students on campus. 

There shouldn't be any difference in the quality of the material, the effort given to the lectures, or their dedication in assigning and marking projects. Ideally, the websites for your short-listed online colleges will have profiles for all these staff. This should give a clear indication of their role within the institution, their years of service, qualifications, and work in related fields. You should come away excited at the prospect of learning from them - not wondering how they managed to get the job.

3) The Pass Rate

Every student will get as much out of an online course as they put in. As long as you are prepared to attend every online class, work through all the material, and give 100% to the assignments, you are on the right path. Those who think they can coast through an online course for a passing grade may get a nasty surprise. However, you still need to work with a college with a good track record. 

You can go online to learn more about the stats for each college in your shortlist. Those with a really low pass rate may not do enough to guide students through the modules and help them grow. Those with an exceptionally high pass rate may also be a little too easy. Maybe they don't go deep enough into the material?

4) Student Financial Support

This is a big deal for any new student looking to enroll in an online college course. Online learning should be the more affordable option if you don't have to worry about travel and accommodation costs. However, it can still be pretty expensive. Colleges with programs to help students on low incomes do wonderful work. Not only can they offer the support to help make the courses manageable, but they might also be able to help with other costs. 

Check out sites like EDsmart for lists of colleges that offer free laptops to students. These can be a vital lifeline for anyone struggling to afford a device for typing notes and writing assignments. Of course, student support also goes much further than financial aid. You should also sign up knowing that the tutors can offer as enough one-on-one time and guidance as possible to get you through the course. This could mean regular video calls as well as online classes.

5) Somewhere that's highly respected

This last point is one new students can't overlook. It is easy to fall for an institution because of its course content and great promises. However, a good brochure doesn't mean that the college is respected or highly praised. All online colleges should be accredited, so long for proof of that on their website to begin with. You can then read online testimonials from students and academic reports from experts in the industry. 

There's always going to be a few students bad-mouthing the place because they failed, or some former tutors giving biased reports. Still, there has to be a strong ratio of positive to negative comments. If the majority of students loved their experience and recommended it, you are probably in good hands.

Narrow Down Your Choices Until Your Find The Right Fit

The wealth of options is impressive and daunting at the same time. Still, when you work through these points, you will soon find the college that's right for you. Compare the brochures of leading colleges, including HVAC trade schools Houston, to see which course has the modules you desire.

Look at each institution's track record - in both their pass rates and positive reviews. Also, don't forget to check the credentials of the teachers and if there's any financial support out there. Don't rush this decision. Take as much time as you need to find the online college of your dreams.

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